By Cale Ottens | The Arizona Republic
Despite the primary election being more than a year away, two Peoria City Council members have announced they will explore bids for mayor.
Councilwoman Cathy Carlat, reelected to a third term last year, announced she had formed an exploratory committee last week.
This week, two-term Councilman Ron Aames formed his exploratory committee.
Such committees are common practice and allow candidates to accept and spend donations and assess public support.
If the last time the city faced an open mayor’s seat, about eight years ago, is any indicator, candidates will not begin to formally announce their bids for an additional six months or so.
Term-limited Mayor Bob Barrett, who will leave office in January 2015, said he wasn’t surprised Carlat and Aames were interested in running for his seat.
